The top reported proficiency rate is 91% in English language arts. The lowest is 71% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hs of Engineering & Science
High School of Engineering and Science serves grades seven through twelve as a regular public school within the Philadelphia City School District, located on Norris Street in the city's Kensington neighborhood. The school draws nearly all of its students from families qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, and the student body is predominantly Black, with substantial representation from Asian, Hispanic, and white peers. Roughly the same number of seventh and eighth graders enroll as ninth graders; the school holds its tenth graders in larger numbers, then tapers slightly through eleventh and twelfth grade.
In the most recent state testing data available, seventh and eighth graders in English Language Arts showed strong proficiency, while mathematics proficiency was notably lower. This split between reading strength and math difficulty is common in urban schools and worth understanding in the context of the school's specialized mission. The district recently adopted a science-of-reading curriculum and Illustrative Mathematics K-12, both of which took effect after these test results were recorded, so the math numbers reflect instruction before that change.
The school's academic identity centers on engineering and science. While the data provided does not include detailed course catalogs, AP offerings, or dual-enrollment pathways, this designation points to a school organized around STEM. Parents interested in this school should request specifics about program structure, whether it is selective-entry or open-enrollment within the district, what engineering and science coursework looks like in grades seven and eight versus the high school years, and how the school balances breadth across subjects with its specialized focus.
Philadelphia itself is a large, densely walkable city with a strong neighborhood identity. The city's economy is anchored in healthcare, higher education, life sciences, and financial services, with major employers including the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine, Children's Hospital, Comcast, and a significant life-sciences sector. The city is in a period of moderate growth concentrated in Center City, though this growth is uneven across neighborhoods. The school sits in North Philadelphia, a part of the city where housing values and rents remain substantially lower than Center City or University City.
At the district level, parents should be aware of major structural changes underway. The district has adopted standardized curriculum in math and reading across all schools, a shift intended to bring consistency after years of school-by-school choice. Reading proficiency dipped in the first year of the new ELA curriculum, with about two-thirds of students still not proficient. The district also approved a sweeping facilities master plan in 2026 that will close schools, consolidate programs, and modernize buildings over the coming decade, reshaping catchment areas and school assignments citywide. Separately, the city raised the property tax allocation to schools and approved property tax increases that will boost school funding but also raise homeowner costs.
For a family considering this school, the key questions beyond academics are whether the engineering and science focus aligns with a student's interests, how the school supports students across a wide grade span from seventh through twelfth, whether the school is selective or a neighborhood/district choice option, what completion and college-going rates look like, and how the school's building and programs may be affected by the district's ongoing facilities plan. State test data does not yet reflect the new curriculum, so recent results alone will not tell the full story of classroom instruction.
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